Filled with national pride, the Greek media, with the support of the country's bombastic authorities, missed the opportunity to present as evidence a reenactment of this authentic Nazi ceremony, the so-called “Olympic Torch Lighting Ceremony” in Olympia. Not there. It shows the greatness and historical continuity of the Greek nation. Along with this, we will also present accessories such as the “first Olympic torch,'' which was handed to the mayor of Marathon. “In a grand ceremony that included an iconic torch run from the Marathon's historic start line to the Marathon Run Museum.”
Important details are, of course, conveyed in systematic silence, but they are considered… “state secrets.” Inspired by Goebbels and manufactured by the Krupp company, the “first torch” was lit at Olympia with choreography that remains unchanged to this day by the infamous Leni Riefenstä, Hitler's official director.hl. It must be said that this “first torch” fell in 1936 at a difficult time. Czech citizens threw stones at German-speaking torchbearers as they passed through their country. For it was clear that the route they followed marked the outline of a great torch. In four years, the Third Reich will become a nightmare reality. Apparently, the Czech people of 1936 knew in advance that the Greek media and the authorities of this poor country still continue to ignore them in 2024. So here's why we've been waiting for decades for the moment when this flame would be irrevocably extinguished. That's simply because, as a full-page headline in the Greek daily Estia aptly stated in August 1936, the “Olympic Torch” was “Dr. Goebbels' brilliant idea.”
So what are the epic tales of ancient ancestors, virgin priestesses, sacred flames, and more? The entire Greek state and its political staff, including nine out of ten of its official intellectuals, have been told straight from the depths of time All this nonsense we've been taught to believe is coming is just celebrating its… 88th birthday! At the end of July 1936, just before the opening of the Olympic Games, which Nazism won in Berlin, Greek newspapers published their usual patriotic articles celebrating Leni Riefenstahl and her “Olympic Torch Lighting Ceremony.” The article was published with an epic accent. Here are some enlightening excerpts.
“When Olympia awoke, the sun rose behind the conical greenery of Mount Cronion, silvering the waters of the Cladeos and Alpheus rivers, in the scorching sun of historic July 20, 1936. Those who suffered below took their places; the pines of Cronion, and the others around the gates of Place Coubertin, until the moment when the signal for the start of the ceremony was made from the hill of Cronion. , we waited all night. And in the morning, a wonderful woman, Leni Riefenstahl, led a film crew and personally directed the lighting of the Olympic torch at the start line of the ancient stadium. In a stroke of genius, she took Pratsika and the schoolgirls and quickly turned the cameraman into an actor. Condylis, the first runner, had no intention of wearing the tight pants worn by the ancients. She stripped him naked, made him a runner, lit the sacred altis dried herb on a makeshift altar made from a pillar drum, tuned the engine and filmed it, and gave him advice, commands, and instructions. She did the same thing ten times and started with the first runner's torch. The German was literally burned out and sweat dripped out like a river. Riefenstahl gave him a towel to dry himself. and started shooting again.”
(…) When this takes place at Place Coubertin, a beautiful ceremony unfolds on the starting line of the ancient stadium. The virgins who carry the light of Pratsika receive the Olympic light from the sun. They are all lonely. No one can witness the lighting. And in fact, no one was allowed to attend this ritual, which was filmed by Leni Riefenstahl during a morning rehearsal, only Phoebus and the Greek virgin who gave the fire were left to witness the divine ritual. was.
(…) It is the most touching moment. Everyone looks on with quiet admiration and respect. The light of the Olympics is transmitted. Young Condylis from Olympia intersects with the girls of light and lights a torch from the altar fire. This is the moment everyone has been waiting for. It is impossible for everyone's bodies not to be still, for not even a moment to have stopped breathing, and for their mouths not to be paralyzed. The silvery rays of the sun illuminated the idyllic green land of Olympia. A young, half-naked, tanned Condyris has just lit the first torch and is running…running and holding the torch high. The audience erupts in applause and bravos.
In an instant he sets off, circling the Cronion ring road, carrying the Olympian torch and carrying the Olympic light, the eternal Greek civilization of feats and spirit. ”(1).
(VRADYNI Newspaper, Tuesday, July 21, 1936)
What today would be called a Hollywood spectacle directed by Leni Riefenstahl, the Nazi party's official ritual director, based on Dr. Goebbels' ideas that were enthusiastically approved by Chancellor Hitler!
Let's assume you're right. Greek officials of all kinds, who keep their mouths shut and pretend to be ignorant, may finally cry out: And of course they will fight back. But that does not necessarily mean that all Olympism is rotten, that Baron Coubertin's Olympic idea is no longer valid, and that it should not inspire us.
Now let's talk about the “father” of Olympism, the founder and inspiration of the modern Olympic Games. de coubertin, whose name adorns the streets and squares all over the world, especially in our country, Greece. Let me be clear: Our good baron is a rare racist, militarist, reactionary, colonialist, misogynist, and warmonger (obviously with Nazi sympathies). ), a far-right figure who dwarfed even Donald Trump and his compatriot Marine Le Pen. ! And this is a small anthology of his “credos”, formulated by the Baron himself. Throughout his life, the Baron declares himself to be a “fanatic colonialist” and a supporter of all inequalities (of class, race, gender), and to be I didn't stop doing that.
Illustration by Sonia Mitralia.
+ “Races do not have the same value and all other races must pledge allegiance to the white race. Intrinsically superior.”
+ “There are two distinct races: the honest ones with strong muscles and a confident gait, and the sickly ones with a humble, hopeless look and defeated gaze. So in the university as well as in the world, The weak are ignored; only the strong can appreciate this education.”
+ “Don't let anyone talk about games that women, teenagers, and vulnerable people can participate in.”
+ “The only real heroes of the Olympics are men. Women's Olympics are unthinkable. They would be uninteresting, unattractive, untrue. Their role in the Olympic Games is above all an ancient tournament of knights. Similarly, it should be about crowning the winner.”
+ “The superior race has every right to deny to the inferior race certain privileges of civilized life.”
+ “These young athletes feel more ready for war than their ancestors. And when they're ready for something, they're more willing to do it.”
+ “I would like to thank the German government and people for their efforts in commemorating the 11th Olympiad.” (…)” (…) This apotheosis of the Nazi regime led to the development of the Olympic Games. How can I abandon the celebration of the 11th Olympic Games after the emotional shock that made it possible?”
It was therefore no surprise that shortly thereafter, Chancellor Hitler nominated de Coubertin for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Epilogue: All of this is now common knowledge, and we have no illusions that history and other arguments will “persuade” those in power to end the biggest fraud of the past two centuries . If there is anything that can end this unlikely but true “Olympics” of Nazism and a commercial circus of corruption and alienation, it is only a movement of flesh-and-blood citizens. After all, nothing is built on lies and deceit…
Note
1. Watch an excerpt from the film Riefenstahl shot in Olympia in 1936.
